Jessica Bouzas Maneiro continues summer surge with "very emotional" Venus Williams win

CINCINNATI, Ohio—Jessica Bouzas Maneiro grew up, like many young WTA stars, watching seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams on TV.

She never imagined she would one day share the court with the former world No. 1—but the stars aligned at the Cincinnati Open, where Williams received a main draw wild card and was drawn as Bouzas Maneiro’s first-round opponent.

Read more: Venus Williams falls in Cincinnati Open first round to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

“I had never even imagined something like this!” Bouzas Maneiro told Tennis.com. “I didn’t think it would be possible for me to play a match against one of the Williams sisters, but it happened.

“My coach and I always have a game, sort of like, let’s guess who your next opponent will be. And then they said Venus’s name… I hadn’t guessed her at all. It was like, ‘What? Is this for real?’”

Bouzas Maneiro stuck to her strong baseline game to win 6-4, 6-4, and gave credit to her opponent, whom she called “a legend.”

“It was a pleasant surprise,” Bouzas Maneiro said of playing Williams. “Because when you stop to think about it, you realize there probably aren’t going to be too many opportunities like this.

“I think I’m actually very lucky that I got to play against her, and then to win in the end was very emotional for me.”

Born in Galicia, she trained at David Ferrer’s academy in Alicante before relocating to Madrid to work with Roberto Ortega Olmedo.

Now in her sophomore year on tour, the 22-year-old Spaniard is having a red-hot summer. She scored a statement 6-0, 6-1 win over Emma Navarro at Roland Garros, then built on that momentum with her best Grand Slam result so far—reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon. She continued her run in North America by making her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal in Montreal, where she fell to eventual champion Victoria Mboko, and arrived in Cincinnati at a new career-high ranking of world No. 42.

She credits a change in mentality and a focus on “mental calm”—a shift led by Ortega Olmedo to ensure she stays focused on the right things.

"At the beginning of the year, I was having some thoughts that weren’t really working for me—like thinking too much about my ranking, and getting caught up in all the points, and if I win or lose here what that will mean,” Bouzas Maneiro explained.

“Now, I really feel more centered and relaxed. I feel like I’m focusing more on the work that needs to be done each day, and making sure that, above all, I’m always giving my best, staying positive on court and letting my tennis flow.

“That’s a key change that me and my team have made. It was tough to get there, but I’m so happy that we’ve been able to find this path.”

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